Incident #1001218
Kamiah, Idaho Cty, Idaho
Feb 1979
Account
Victor Hoskins was driving a loaded wheat truck slowly West on Hwy. 12 along the Locsa River when about 11 miles East of Lowell, between mile markers 153 and 154, he saw across the river the biggest bear he had ever seen, sitting or squatting at the base of a large tree about 35 yards away. It stood up on its hind legs, stretched its head high as if to see him better, then turned and started walking downstream parallel to him. After a few yards it turned away from the river and walked much faster into the brush and timber, using its hands to push brush and limbs away from its face. In the open the arms swung widely. Estimated 9 to 10 feet tall, very heavy, legs normal length but arms extremely long, hands below knees. Covered with long flowing dark hair, blowing at least 10 or 12 inches long from raised arms.
When
- Month
- Feb
- Year
- 1979
- Season
- winter
- Time of Day
- noon
- Duration
- minute
Where
- State / province
- Idaho
- County
- Idaho Cty
- Nearest Town
- Kamiah
- Direction from Town
- East
- Distance from Town
- 27
- Population of Town
- 1300
- Elevation/Altitude
- 16
- Latitude
- 4613--
- Longitude
- 11527--
What was seen
- Individuals
- one large, sex unknown
- Total Individuals
- 1
- Population Status
- wild
- First Seen
- beside
- Terrain Object
- water
- Near or/at
- tree
- Shot Hit
- No
Witnesses
- Witness(es) Sex
- Male
- Report type
- 1st person
Setting
- Terrain
- valley
- Exact Terrain
- open area
- Slope
- valley bottom
- Nearby Water
- river
- Distance to Water
- close
- Snow Condition
- deep old
- Cover
- some trees
- General
- none
- Undergrowth
- some
- General undergrowth
- none
Weather and light
- Heat
- cold
- Relative Temperature
- cool
- Clarity
- overcast
- Lighting
- daylight
- Visibility Index
- 8
Source
- Source
- Russ Gebhart intv. with Victor Hoskins
- Source Type
- colleague
- Source Date
- APR 1979
- Source reliability
- 8
- Incident reliablility
- 5
- Jwg file date
- MAY 1979
- Incident type
- 1
Creature description
- Hair Covered
- yes
- Height
- 9-10 ft
- Build
- very heavy
- Posture
- erect
- Hair Length
- long
- Hair curl
- straight
- Appearance
- smooth
- Hair Colour
- dark
- Hair Longer on
- arms
- Legs
- medium
- Arms
- long
- Movement
- getting up
- Later Movement
- turned, travelled parallel
- Walking Speed
- fast
- Arms Action
- swinging
- Arms Used
- for spreading foliage
- Reaction
- avoided
- Estimated Top Speed (mph)
- fast
- Additional Movement
- turned, entered woods
- Position when first seen
- squatting
Witness
- Sex
- Male
- Interviewer
- Russ Gebhart
- Interview date
- 1979
- Witness Saw with
- naked eye
- Observer Was
- in truck
- Moving Y/N
- Yes
- Position
- seated
- Making Noise Y/N
- Yes
- Closest horizontal distance
- 50 yards
- Action on sighting
- kept going, studied
- No of witnesses
- 1